School climate and leadership: research into three secondary schools

Stephen Dinham
Trevor Cairney
Doug Craigie
Steve Wilson

Abstract

This paper draws on the findings of a major research project funded by the New South Wales Department of School Education in Australia which sought to examine the school- community interface and communication in government comprehensive high schools in that state. Data were drawn initially from nine schools in Western Sydney with three of these schools being the subject of in-depth follow up study. These studies revealed the significant role played by senior school executive, particularly the Principal, in the development of communication methods in schools and their influence on school culture and climate. Decision making and communication methods in the three schools are examined within the context of each school's environment and implications drawn for school leadership, staff morale, and staff, student and community attitudes. A key finding is that there is no "recipe" for success as a principal. Rather, a contingency approach is advocated whereby individual principals adopt a personal position across a range of important considerations, these positions being dependent upon contextual and personal factors. The case studies suggest what these positions could be.